Chapter 939 Golden Cracks

The moment the strange incidents started with the puppeteer Arthur wanted to find, Runera began to change. It was the first time someone would work from their midst, and no one saw the traitor.

As she looked at the Twelve Masters, Julia could not help but feel something bigger was happening. First has told her he already knew Arthur would win, but does that mean the rest of the Masters knew the same?

Her doubts grew immense since she could not voice her accusations of this man because he might be an ally. If Arthur were to win, this would benefit them, right?

The possibilities twisted her mind as she tried to decide whether First was their ally or enemy. She would not have been confused about this without his last words.

"Bring them forward," said the burly man with the number three on his mask. "Place them on this stand for the invader to see."

The guards did not hesitate to grab and raise their arms, and the pair did not struggle. It was simply time-consuming to fight against these men with their puny strength. All they could do was save it for the right moment to save themselves.

In front of the Twelve Masters was a small platform, raised just enough to be as high as the railings. The two were placed on it and chained to the hooks on its floor. The chains happened to be so short that they were brought to their knees, unable to move.

"Arthur Silvera is bound to see you now, despite the distance," said Third with his monotonous voice. "Bring the executor."

A tall man came forward, carrying a large sword over his back. He would kill them both with a single strike if he willed and aimed right. Then, he stood beside Julia, sending chills down her spine. His eyes did not look human beneath the leather mask, and his gaze was sinister.

"Do we need to notify him?" hesitantly asked Twelfth. "Executing them will be pointless if he does not notice."

"Oh, he already noticed," exclaimed First again, compelling everyone to look toward Arthur. Julia was the first to gaze at him. Everyone could tell that something was wrong because Arthur raised his hand while looking at them, bringing his army to a halt.

Arthur Silvera glared at them as he lowered his hand and clenched it. Space began to crack around him as his aura started rising from his body. His spiritual energy was otherworldly, making his aura strong enough to shake the hearts of everyone inside Runera.

Then, he opened his mouth.

His voice boomed in their mind, soft and seething.

"Julia," he called. "I came to bring you home."

Julia was shaken as tears gathered in her eyes. His first sentence was about her, not the ruins or Runera. His anger was unrestrained, but he just cared about bringing her home. However, she could tell that this was not Eragon showing his wrath, but Arthur.

Just for her.

"Bring her home?" asked Second with a sinister laugh as he advanced with his hands behind his back. "We have a hundred thousand warriors separating us. Do you think you have what it takes to take her?"

Arthur remained standing there with his hands clenched into fists. His golden eyes glared at them as he raised his fist, and the world boomed. Golden mana pulsed through his fist as it slowly rose high, and then he slammed it into empty air beside him.

Boom!

Crack!

Rumbling!

As if the glass had shattered that held existence together, cobwebs spread from his fist that slammed into empty air. These golden cracks were faster than anything these men had seen, making the world rumble.

"Brace yourselves!" shouted Velos, who led the army on the ground. These men activated their barriers and brought forward their armor, but it was useless. Wherever the cracks went, it killed. No barrier or armor could protect them, and once Velos realized that he changed his command. "Dodge them!"

The army lost its formation as everyone jumped away from this unknown attack. Thousands died as the cracks slammed into them, breaking their bones and destroying their organs.

Then, the cracks reached the tall walls of Runera, which did not have a single break. However, when these cracks touched them, they exploded, and fissures spread inside them. The rumbling did not cease until the cracks reached the wooden platform.

The golden crack reached Julia like a serpent gazing at her. It slithered and turned like golden lightning as it struck their chains, destroying them. Julia could feel herself become lighter, which was the destruction's end.

The actions of a single man silenced the world as everyone gazed at him with fear. In a single attack with thousands of meters between them, he killed thousands of warriors armed to the teeth with artifacts and did more damage to the walls than an army could.

Crash!

Clatter!

The falling boulders from the wall broke the silence as it lost chunks of its structure. Before any more could fall, an array activated, fortifying the wall and ensuring it did not collapse.

"I see less than a hundred thousand now," said Arthur to Second, who had provoked him earlier. The man was shaking as he met his golden eyes, even though a vast expanse of land separated the two.

The army hurried to regain its formation, but the enemy did not use this chance to attack. Instead, they all stood rooted in the wrong, waiting for their warlord to command them. Arthur lowered his fist as he glared at the Twelve Masters.

"If Julia is harmed, I will tear you apart."

Her tears began to fall when she heard his words. Julia never realized that Arthur cared about her this much, even if she knew he would protect her, but seeing it made her heart ache. However, the following words she heard made her snap her eyes open.

"Kill them both," commanded Third with his monotonous tone. The executor unsheathed his sword, ready to strike their heads down. Julia opened her eyes and saw the blade glimmer.

Everything turned slower as she looked at the executor with his wide grin and white breath. Julia saw snowflakes falling from the sky as he brought the sword toward them. It was then that she realized she had to use her ability now.

Arthur destroyed the chains for her, and Master Yuvan gave her the Spatial Runic Card. Julia raised her hands toward the executor and released the stored attack. Like whips, the spatial energy lines exploded from her arms, sending the executor flying.

Julia watched as he flew in an arch before falling from the walls, screaming before his body hit the ground. Her heart shook as this was the first person she had killed in her sheltered life. Her hand trembled, but she knew that she needed to act fast.

Her father was still shaken by the change when she grabbed him before turning toward Arthur. Space began to wrap beside them, hinting at the incoming teleportation. A figure appeared on the platform, his robes fluttering in the wind.

"Master Yuvan!" called Julia as she tried to raise her father toward him so they could teleport away. "We…" her voice could no longer leave her mouth since she could see the face of the man who teleported for her.

Standing before Julia and her father was a man wearing a mask with a word on it. That word was First, which made Julia unable to finish her sentence. Her mind blanked as the man snickered and raised his hand toward his mask.

"You followed the plan well, Julia," said First as he removed his mask. The face behind it belonged to the man she trusted and followed, Yuvan Perli. However, she could tell that he had not come to save her. "Ah, this despair is what I wanted to see. The despair of hopes being crushed and plans failing."

"What is this…?" muttered Julia with confusion as her breathing grew rapid. Her vision turned hazy as if she was about to pass out. "Master Yuvan…"

"No, Julia, no. My name is First," said Yuvan Perli with a grin that reached his ears. "You did everything just right, but in the end, you won't be able to save your father."

Before she could string a sentence, First raised a finger and fired an imaginary pistol at her. Julia felt her heart crushed, and her entire body ignited on fire, but none was real. A few seconds later, her pain disappeared, and she was back to normal.

"You won't be able to save your father because you will be the one to kill him," said Yuvan Perli with a dagger in her hand, which he threw toward her. Julia caught it, unable to comprehend what was happening, and her body began to move against her control.

Julia realized that something was wrong with her body. Then, she managed to piece together every clue she had: the words that Yuvan said and what the traitor was.

A puppeteer.